Contacting means



1,637,468 .Aug. 2 1927. H. E. BONER CONTACTING MEAN S Filed-Abril 21, 1926 2 sheets-Smet ,1,

'2 i9 Aug 27* H.- E. BONER CONTACTEN@ MEANS Filed April 2l, 1926 2 ShvQQtS-Shet 2 clumsy,

lietented 2, il@6 ik espinacas snee spur su, me. semi no. masse.

This invention relates to means `for effecting intimate contact of a liquid with a gas or vapor. or effecting a maximum surface esposure lof a liid to a gas or vapor; this fiction usuelly ta es place within a shell or tower and the liquid passes downwardly as the gris or vapor passes upwardly. ",lshe means usually employed to eilect this intimute Contact consists or one or more screens or plates in series, one above the other, each piste having means for introducing liquid onto it, with means for allowing only the liquid to flow downwardly from the plate; ineens is usually provided such as wire mesh., or perorations in the plate, or a solid platoy herring nipples with cap seals placed over euch nipple, all arranged so that gus or vapor passing upwardly through the wire mesh, periorations or nipples, contacts with the 'liquid on that plate.

ln the use of such apparatus it is desirable to have the gas or vapor attain a considerable velocity through the liquid in order thet this Contact may result inthe production of minute bubbles or froth so that the maximum surface of liquid is formed `for exposure to thel gas or vapor and also sothat the ges or vapor bubbles may be deformed, that is to say, elongated, in order to have a rnesiinuzn exposure o gas or vapor tothe liquid. its e result of using such velocityat points of Contact the liquid splashes upwardly or minute droplets or ubbles are carried hy .mechanical entrainment to the plate immediately abovel and so on through the lshell or tower. This carrying of liquid from a lower to an upper plate interferes seriously with and often completely counterfili sots the intended action expected from the use et such an apparatus.

Yfurther, in the use of .suoli perforated pl tes the fresh liquid being introduced ,onto a late flows 'toward an outlet such us :in werden,7 pipe or downspout. which serves "to introduce the liquid onto thc next plate bclow,` or linto the space just below, and it may hoppen that little or no movement of the liquid on certain portions of thc plate takes The. result oi this is that 'the gus or r passes through such ureus without. uti, the esired action. Again, in thi;y use ou apparatus it frequently happens that oth he formed 'thut is slow in breukdown; es a result, the flow of the mixo't liquid und ons or vapor through the q voeiio'fr or dowiispout provided is. very sluggish and seriously interferes Withthe proper iloiv of liquid downwardly through theshell or tower; indeed such a sluggish action results in a filling up or flooding of the shell or tower undl entirely prevents the' desired action.

The general object or this invention is to overcome these objections and to prov-1de a tower that can-be driven at a high rate, thereby increasing production; also to provide a construction of a plate for use in series in a shell or tower Where intimate contact ot a 'liquid with a gas or vapor is desired whereby the action on any one plate does not detrimentally atleet the action on other or adjacent plates, so that such results as may be logically expected from suchinti-I mate contact under the imposed conditions ot' rate ot' flow otl liquid, rate of flow of gas or vapor, temperature, pressure, etc.` may be more nearly realized; also to provide a construction which Will provide ample opportunity for the breaking'down of the froth; also to provide a plate, only a part of which contains wire mesh or perforations so that a splash plate ofless area than the plate may be placed over this perforated area, thus preventing direct splashing of the liquid to the plateimniediutely above, and yet allowing sui'icient area around the splash plate, so that the velocity of the gas or vapor around this plate will be too loW to etlect'mechanicul entroinment of droplets or bubbles of the liquid with the gas or vapor entering or passing through the plate immediately above; also to provide means for introducing,r the liquid onto the plate in u comparatively thin broad stream flowing immediately upon the plate itse'l'f und not li )on or over froth already formed thus taci ituting the movement or conve 7nce oi' froth already formed, from the periiorated uren, and in this' Wa less-coing the chance ot developing a dead arca over which vfroth would be displaced very slowly if utoull; also to produce antimprovcd plate whercon the li uid after contact with 'the gus or vapor, w iether actually trohed or not, has a definite quiet impert'orated urea where froth if 'formed as Such is given time to break down or release the cutrained' orvapor und the liquid portion to coulcsce before'flowing as u liquid through un overflow or downspout..

Further objects of the inveption ivi'll appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel partev nos In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a |frectlonating 'tower or still embodying my inv rition.

Fig. 2 is a partial section ulxiori. n `enlarged Scale, showing the principal portion of the interior of the tower, and part ot' the tower in elevation.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal cross section through the tower upon an enlarged scale, taken about on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, certain parts being broken away, and particularly illustratin the construction oi. the screen which I re er to use in this tower. l

ig. 4 is a horizontal section taken about on the line 4 4 of Fig. 2, and particularly illustrating the construction of a re-boiler which constitutes a feature of my invention.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken at one edge of one of the screens, and particularly illustrating the means for delivering the current of oil on to the perforate area of the screen.

In practicing m invention I provide an absorption tower, 'ractionating tower or still consisting of the usual cylindrical casing 1; this casing may be built up of short. lengths or cylinders connected together by flanges formed of angle iron 2. ln applying the i n vention to a fractionating tower, at a suitable point, I provide a receiver 3 for crude oil having an inlet 4 through which heated crude oilvis puin ed into the receiver. The temperature of tliisoil depends upon what fraction is desired,'but for evaniploy the toniperature may be about 450o F. The oil vfrom the receiver passes through a stripper section 5, the functlon of which is to take oli' from the oil the desired fraction and with it per-v haps heavier fractions. This stripper section is preferably constructed of a' plurality of screens 6 or contact plates. These screens are of a t pical form and embod novel features o scpens are used within the tower. There may be as many as desired of these screecns 6. The are preferably constructed in such a Way t t the oil current moving across an upper screen moves in a reverse direction from that which it has when crossing the next lower screen. From the reccivcr 3 the oil passes downwardly through a down-pipe 7 onto the uppermost-screen. This screen is substantially of the saine construction as the others, that is toV say, its middle portion 8 constitutes a perforatc-aien and uiay be formed of a plate with perforations or ol' :L

^ cause it to ilow in a current along the u my invention; and t cy A'arev preferably substantially the same wherever.

mesh screen. On the side or edge of' the pei'- forate area remote from the point of admission of the oil, the screen has an iinpcrforate area 9, and the space l0 above this imperforate area is intended to operate as a coalescing zone for the froth which passes off of the perforate area.

Suitable means is provided for control ling'the admission of the oil so as to prevent it from flowing over the froth, and so as to Pref face of the plate when 'it will come in intimate contact with the hot vapors passing up through the perforations ll. In order to acconiplislithis l prefer to provide an oil trough 12 which extends transversely of the screen and toward one side (sec Fig. 3 At one side this oil trough is provid with an outlet such as an elevated overflow outlet 13, which may he formed simply by cutting a long notch in the upper edge of the trough on this side. In a fractionating tower where the oil treated is light, between this outlet and the pcrorate area oi" the plate I provide means such as a baille plate 14, which prevents the overflow of oil from splashing onto the froth. The lower edge of this baille plate ld is elevated slightly above the upper iacc of the sci-oen so as to forni :i port or passageway 15 through which the oii is guided in a current flowing across the plate.

'This baille plate may be omitted in absorption towers.

Above the perforate arca of each screen I provide :i sputter plate 16 which prevents any possibility of oil vt'roni a lower screen being entrained or carried up through the froth on the screen just above it. Below the screens ot' the stripper section I provide incans such as an inlet 1T for admitting thet heated gas or vapor, such as steam, and I may use strain of about 22()D F., for example. This steam passes upwardly through the periorations in the screens and cornes in intimate contact with the currents of'oil flow ing across thelfnces o the plates. The plates or screens are constructed in an alternate or reversed manner, that is to say, as illustrated in Fig. 2, on the uppermost screen of the,

stripper section the oil will flow from left to right, and a down pipe 18 at the right hand side'ol this screen and at its coalescing area will carry the liquid forming from the froth to the oil trough 19 on the next screen below. On this nextlower screen, the oil will flowfroin right to loft and soon down through the entire stripper section.

The vapors accumulating below the receiver 3 are carried through the receiver and preferably directly through -the body of oil within the receiver. For t` iis purpose I pro vide a plurality of bubbling nipples 20 which nia-'v he provided with inverted cup-shaped caps 21. In thc operation of the apparatus, the vapors pass upwardly from the lower spout l nebbie up through ie receiver, psssing o? the receiver .Ver ni s 2li and caps @5i the ors vpass on up perforations ot' screens 6 which washing section and which are i niiar to.the screens which are Y the receiver 3. Above the 1 tion provide a ire-boiler 26 7" i L ed belen1 the raetioneting sect e tower and which coilects oil si .velt 2225 sccinnu ,3 in the tractomitingl section 2?.'

schoner is construct-ed in such e Wely to 3e-.nait the vapors to pti-ss up 'tironfr irom the washingg section, for i ably constructed viii: tribes which are end the upper ends of aber: the ievel of the oil in the is reV1 oiier has a deiivery out iin it and this outiet is 'h strap 30 'from may o essed off and cooled ur'ooses, it desired.

' level the outletthc rettet which communicates boiler h: s by; s connection I 2 und valve 33 with a,

which deiivers distiiiote oil into oii trough i2 of *he uppermost screen le Washing section Tnis oil from the rer across the screens of the West ing .ion in succession and condenses the heavier vapors which have come up from the stripper section. The iighter vepors pass or up through the tui 28 oiethe re-boiier lnass into the trsctionsting section 2'?, iiiissection oi the tower is constructed of 6 similia-r to the screens of the Washn and stripper section. The iowermost screen o of the iractionoting section is :ided with down pe which deiivers oil comingr down om the fractionutin 'in into the re-boiier throughaen, oil seat :is the lighter vapors uctionating' section i ori tlieni into conwith currents ot oii :ing across the l oi this section end this oii is praten I the condensate oi suhstantialty the deiraotion. For this purpose l would a redux inlet 37 which or from similar tower. This iniet s downpipe .vhi delivers the con Lc 'nto en oit troug i2 similar to the I otrendy des ribed in connecstripper section. From this oii pase succession down current. in the general direction of the cou- Y lescing zones of the screens which are loceted opposite to t-he point of admission of the o'il current which flows across the screen. The froth fiows over the wall 41 and breaks down in the coalescing zones,l a`nd the liquid from it passes on down to the' next screen below. The down-pipes such as 7 and 18 are of course sealed by the oil in the troughs into which they extend. In other Words, the screens are mounted so that the vapors can pass up only by goin through-thc perforations.

Any heavier fractions' of vapor which iind their way into the fractionating Section willcondens'c there and be re-boiled in the re-boiler so as to produce the desired lower fraction from them. I

It is understood that the embodiment of the invention described herein is onlyone of 'the many embodiments this invention may take, and do not wish to be limited in the' practice of the invention, nor in the claims, to' the particular embodiment set forth.

What ciaim is l. n a. fractionating tower, the combination of a' receiver for crude oil, a stripper section below the receiver, means for-conducting crude oil from the receiver through the stripper section, means for passing heated vapor or gas through the stripper section in intimate contact with the oil pass ing therethrough, to vaporizethe heavier fractions, a re-boiler above the receiver,L u. fractionuting section above the re-boiler, means for conducting condensate of substentiaiiy the desired fraction from the exterior, into and through the raetionating section, means for conducting the vapors from the stripper section through the frac.

tioneting section. in intimate contact with the' condensate, and means for leading ed the vapors from the fractionating section.

2. in a fractionatingg tower, the combinetion of o receiver lfor crude oit, a stripper through the re-hoiler and through the screens of the fractionating section, means for guiding condensate of substantially the desired fraction across the screens of the tra@ tionating Section and into the reboiler, and

means for leading' oli' the vapors from the fractionating section.

3. In n fractionating tower, the combination o a receiver for crude oil, a stripper 10, section below the receiver for taking oil from the receiver and vaporizing e fraction nr fractions therefrom, e fractionating section with screens above the receiver, means for conducting the vapors from the stripper ,15 section up throu h the screens of the frac tionating section, means for admitting condensate of substantially the desired fraction from the exterior, and passing the saine over the screens ot' the fractionating section,

and a re-boiler below the frectioneting section for revapcrizing /the desired lfraction from the oil collecting in the re-boilern 4. In a fractionating tower, the combination of e receiver 'for crude oil, n stripper section below the receiver for taking oil from the receiver and vaporizing e fraction or fractions therefrom, means for passing oil from the receiver through the stripper section, meansl for admitting steam to pass upwardly through the stripper section in intimate Contact with the oil through, a re-boiler above the receiver, means for conducting the vapors from the stripper section through the receiver end through the re-boiler, a fractionating sec-- ,'tion above the rc-boiler, means for admitting condensate oi" substantially the desired fraction from the exterior to the fractionating section, means vl'or conducting the vapors 40 passing up from the rie-boiler into intimate Contact with the condrnsatc, audan outlet for the vapors from the l'ractionating section.

'5. In a fractionaling tower, the combination of a receiver for crude oil, a stripper section below the receiver for taking oil from the receiver and vaporizing a `fraction or fractions therefrom, means for passing oil from the receiver' through the stripper section, means `for admitting steam to pass upwardly through the stripper section in intimate contact with the"' oil passing there through, a re-boiler above the receiver, means for' conducting the vapors 'from the stripper y section through the receiver and through the re-boiler, a frectionating section above the re-boiler, means for admitting condensate of substantially the dcsirod fraction to the fractionating section, means for conducting the G0 vapors passing up from the re-boiler into intimate contactwith the condensate, an outlet for the vapors from the fractionating Isection, andv means for washing the vapors with distillate from the re-boiler as they pass 55 upwardly from the stripper section.

passing there-Q nest/,eee

6. lin a frectionating tower, the conhinntion o e receiver for crude oil, a stripper section composed of e plurality of screens disposed below the receiver and 'taking oii therefrom, means vfor admitting steam below the stripper section so that the same passes upwardly in intimate Contact with the oil passing over the screens of the stripper section, means for conducting the vapors rom the stripper section through the body of oil in the receiver, a washing election above the receiver and comprising s screen. through whichthe vapors pass upwerdiy, e reboi1er above the washing section with means for conducting distillate from 'the re-hoiler over the screen ot the washing section, a fraction" ating section above the re-hoiler comprising ',screens for bringing the vapors and oil into intimate Contact, and en outlet the vapors from the ractioneting section.'y

7. In a rectionating tow the combination of :i receiver for crude oil, a stripper section composed of aV plurality,7 of screens disposed below the receiver and taking oil therefrom, means for admitting steam below the stripper section so that the same passes upwardly in intimate contact with the oil passingover the vscreens of the stripper scc tion, means for conducting the vapors from the stripper section through the body of oil in the receiver, e washing section ebove the receiver and comprising e screen through which the vapors pass upwardly, e refooiier above the washing Isection with mea-ns for conducting distillate from the re-hoilerecrcss the screen ot thewashing section, a frac tionating section above the re-hoiler com prising screens 'or bringing-'the vapors and oil into intiinatecontact, means for passing condensate ot substantially the desired fraction across the screens of the ractioneting section, and anoutiet for the vapors 'from the fruotionating section. i

8. In apparatus of the kind described,n`v

screen having an imperforete area ande perfs forato area through which heated vapors muy pass upwardly, and means for conducting oiionto the fece of the screen so that the oil passes across the screen under the 'froth forming thereahove.,

, t). In apparatus' of the kind described, a screen havingnn imperorate area end a pci-forato urea, means for possin hot vapors up through the perforations of t e perfornte area, an oil trough at one side of the perforate area and having an outlet for the oii adjacent the perforete area, means between the outlet. and the perforate area for conducting the oil down onto the face of screen, so that a portion of the oil end vapors form a froth, and a portion of the oil passes across the tace ot' the screen under-the froth forming thereon, the movement of the oil across the fece ofthe screen operating to carry the froth onto the imperforate atea, of

mismos the screen, tiro space over sail impor-forato ores, operating as s coulesoing zone, and means for conducting the oil downwardly from tlie coalesoing zione.1

10. En apparatus of the kind desoribed the combination of a, plurality of screens, @noli screen having a perforute urso through which vapors may pass upwardly, and having :in imperfornte ares, the space above which operates as a coalescing zone for froth, on oil trough associated with each screen and operating to delivor a current of oil across the face of the screen and toworii the iroporomte area thereof, the coolesoing sono of each upper screen having means for dolivering oil to the oil trough of the next lower screen.

1l. n apparatus of the kind ascribed the combination of o. piurality of screens,.eaoh screen having a perorate area through which vapors pas upwardly, and having an imperorste oros. with a space above the some operating as a coalescing zone for froth, an oil trough associated with each screen und operating to deliver o current of oil across toe foce of the screen and toward tho 1m perforate area thereof, the coalescing zone of each upper screen havin ing oil to the oil trou of the next lower screen, an n spotter p ate covering the periorate ares oi each screen.

12. ln apparatus of tho kind described, u screenhaving a perforate aren and an irn perlforate vores and having un oil trough at the sido of the perforote areaopposite. to the imperfora'to area, the said oil trough having an overflow on its side toward the perforato area. with a bao plate hetween the overflow and the perforote aren. oi. the screen operating to guide the oil overllow from the trough in a current passing along the upper Side of the perforote area of the screen. whereby the current of oil produces a movement of the froth on the screen toward the imperforate area, the space above said irnperforate urea operating as o coalescing sono, and means {or carrying; off the lliquidi oil forming in tiro oonlescing; zone.

13. ln apparatus for eoctinp; Contact of an oii with vapor, the combination of? o screen in the forni oi opiate having o per forato urso through which the vapor passes upwardly, said plate ulsqhuving an imporforae uren, u Wall about the pororate area, moons for introducing the oil onto the per- 'oruto area, so that tlie oil comes in Contact with the vapor flowing; upwardly through the perfor-Le aren, operating produces, froth overflowing the Woll about tno perfo-- rate ores onto the irnper'iforuto urea, Suid im perforsrto arouoperoting; us a conlosoing Zone, moans for conducting; the oil downwardly from the ooolesoing zone, said pluie mounted so tout vapor below the plots passes to the means for deliver.

sparco above tlio `'pluto only after pir-:sung through the perfornto aren.

l. En apparatus for elfecting contact on oil with u vapor, having un upper impor outlet, the combination of o screen having peroruto oren und an imperfornto oren, moons 'for passing hot vapors up through the pororutions of tile perorote urea, on oil trough located ut onol'sicle of the erforato urea :incl u wall extending urounl tho ro nmining boundary of the-performs uren., on overflow on the side of the trough townrri; the perfor-ae urea, means for intronoingi tiro oil into the trough, means between. tiro trough overflow und the perfornto oren- ?or oondnot ing the oil down to the ,foce of 'the perito roto area enaloiinq tho hot vapors muri nii to form 'bubbling oil and froth, n portion oit' tho oil passing below tho level of tho bubbling oil or froth over the perform@ arno, causing the bubbling oil or froth to overfiow the wall about the perforate oren, onto tho imperforoto area, said impertorate oren opor ating as a coalesoing zone, means for oon ducting the oil ciownwordly from the ooulosoing' zone, o super-posed spiosli-plste obovo the performs area to prevent oil 'being biown directly to said vapor outlet, und. or ranged so that vapor below pussos to'tlio space above only after passing through olio perfor-ate oreu.

:15. ln oppnratus or etlr'ecting contact oiz' on oil with o vapor, having on upper vapor outlet, 'the combination of a, screen hurling u porforote aros and an imperforoto uren, on oilf trough located at one sido of 'tlio porfin rote oreaancl having a woll extenling Erol around tbs remaining ,boundary of tho @tory forato area, moans for introdnoinp; tiro oil into the trough, un ovorow on the sio oli the trough toward the perforate aren, for in trocluoing; the oil onto the perforate oren to come into 'contact with vapor liovving; iron worclly through tire performs urso, und torio bubbles and froth from the oil', @portion of saiol oil :30V/ing under tho bubbles snai froth andi ouusing the somo to overflow tiro Wall about the perforato areas onto tho im porforato oren, seid innierforote eros, oporotings: as o onolesoing zone, moans for oon looting the oil o'wnworly from tire sont esoing zone, 'n superpose@ splash plato sinnvotlio porforoto sono .to prow/'ont oil being blown (lirectiy to o, vapor outlet above, und nil ranged so that vapor below posses to space above only often poss-ing through tho perforate oros.

16. ln o froctionuting tower, tho conilaino tion 'of a. receiver for crudo oil, :r striiiper soo-- tion below tho reoeivor, moons for oonrluotino; ornrle oil from the receiver tiirouggfli tiro stripper section., moons for missing lieutori vapor or gros tlirough the stripper sootiofi in intimate Contact with the oil passing thmu l1, to vaporize the heavier fractions, same from the 4stripper section, ,the upper a per orated transverse plate above the stripends of saidtubes terminating below to said r section, a re-boler above the receiver and perforated glate, andmeans for leading 0E l0 lowv the'said perforated plate, a frationthe vapors rom the fractionati section. 5 ating section above the re-boiler, a plurality Signed at Los Angeles, Cali ornia, this of tubes extending up through the 1re-boiler 12th clay of April, I1926. for conducting vapors upwardly through. the HAI/BERT EVANS BONER. 

